U.S. patent application number 13/538315 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-07 for latching mechanism for access door.
This patent application is currently assigned to U.S.F. FABRICATION, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Osmany M. Carralero, Marvin Ernesto Lopez, Louis S. Slimak. Invention is credited to Osmany M. Carralero, Marvin Ernesto Lopez, Louis S. Slimak.
Application Number | 20130031840 13/538315 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47626033 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130031840 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carralero; Osmany M. ; et
al. |
February 7, 2013 |
Latching Mechanism for Access Door
Abstract
Disclosed is a latching mechanism for a access door. More
specifically, the disclosure relates to an access door that can be
pivoted between opened and closed orientations and secured in the
open position with the aid of a hold open arm. A latching lever, in
turn, pivotally engages the hold open arm to selectively secure the
access door in an opened orientation. A grip upon the hold open arm
can thereafter be used in conjunction with the latching lever to
release the access door and permit it to be closed.
Inventors: |
Carralero; Osmany M.;
(Miami, FL) ; Lopez; Marvin Ernesto; (Hialeah,
FL) ; Slimak; Louis S.; (Penbroke Pines, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Carralero; Osmany M.
Lopez; Marvin Ernesto
Slimak; Louis S. |
Miami
Hialeah
Penbroke Pines |
FL
FL
FL |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
U.S.F. FABRICATION, INC.
Hialeah
FL
|
Family ID: |
47626033 |
Appl. No.: |
13/538315 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61503771 |
Jul 1, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
49/394 ;
49/504 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 1/52 20130101; Y10T
16/544 20150115; E06B 5/06 20130101; E05C 17/28 20130101; Y10T
16/5445 20150115; E02D 29/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
49/394 ;
49/504 |
International
Class: |
E05B 65/06 20060101
E05B065/06; E06B 1/52 20060101 E06B001/52 |
Claims
1. A latching mechanism for an access door comprising: a frame
defining a rectangular opening, the frame having rearward and
forward walls and upper and lower mounting flanges; an access door
pivotally connected to the rearward wall of the frame, the access
door having first and second opposing faces, a recessed inner edge
upon the first face, a handle slidably positioned within access
door, a slotted track formed within the recessed inner edge and
including a latching recess; a hold open arm having first and
second ends and an intermediate extent therebetween, the first end
pivotally secured to the frame, a positioning pin secured to the
second end, a grip positioned along the intermediate extent, the
positioning pin having a cylindrical body and an enlarged head, the
cylindrical body being slidably received within the slotted track;
a latching lever having first and second ends, a handle positioned
upon the first end and an arcuate opening formed in the second end,
the arcuate opening having first and second extents and a centrally
formed cam, a pivot pin formed upon the centrally formed cam, the
pivot pin being slidably received within the slotted track; the
access door having a closed orientation wherein the access door
covers the frame, the access door having an opened orientation
wherein the access door is at approximately a 90 degree angle to
the frame, the access door being secured into the opened position
by rotating the first end of the latching lever towards rearward
wall of the frame and whereby rotation of the cam urges the
positioning pin into the latching recess.
2. A latching mechanism for an access door comprising: a frame
defining an opening; a door pivotally connected to the frame, a
slotted track formed within an edge of the door, the slotted track
having first and second ends; a hold open arm having first and
second ends and an intermediate extent therebetween, the first end
pivotally secured to the frame, a positioning pin secured to the
second end and being slidably received within the slotted track; a
latching lever having first and second ends and a centrally formed
cam, the latching lever being pivotally secured to the slotted
track; the door having an opened orientation wherein the door is at
an angle to the frame, the door being locked into the opened
position by pivoting the first end of the latching lever whereby
the cam rotates and secures the positioning pin into the second end
of the slotted track.
3. The latching mechanism as described in claim 2 wherein the
slotted track has first and second latching recesses and wherein
the cam can be rotated by way of the latching lever to urge the
positioning pin into the second recess to secure the door.
4. The latching mechanism as described in claim 2 wherein the door
includes a recess inner edge and wherein the slotted track is
formed within the recess.
5. The latching mechanism as described in claim 2 wherein the
positioning pin comprises a cylindrical body and a head and wherein
the cylindrical body rides within the slotted track and the head
rides along the outside of the edge.
6. The latching mechanism as described in claim 2 wherein the
access door is horizontal when closed.
7. The latching mechanism as described in claim 2 wherein in the
opened orientation the door forms an angle of between approximately
85.degree. to 95.degree. with respect to the frame.
8. The latching mechanism as described in claim 2 further
comprising a pivot pin formed upon the cam and wherein the pivot
pin rides within the recess at a location adjacent the positioning
pin.
9. The latching mechanism as described in claim 8 wherein the
latching lever rotates about the pivot pin to be brought into
locked and unlocked orientations.
10. The latching mechanism as described in claim 2 wherein the
latching lever includes an arcuate opening with first and second
ends, and wherein the cam is formed between the first and second
ends.
11. The latching mechanism as described in claim 10 wherein the
positioning pin is in one of the ends of the arcuate opening when
the door is secured.
12. The latching mechanism as described in claim 10 wherein the
positioning pin is between the arcuate openings when the door is
released.
13. An access door for an enclosure, the access door comprising: a
frame defining an opening for the enclosure; a door pivotally
connected to the frame, a track formed within an edge of the door,
the slotted track having a latching recess; a hold open arm having
first and second ends and an intermediate extent therebetween, the
first end pivotally secured to the frame, the second end including
a positioning pin that is slidably received within the track; a
latching lever having first and second ends and a cam, the latching
lever is interconnected to the track; the door having an opened
orientation wherein the door is at an angle to the frame, the door
being secured into the opened position by moving the first end of
the latching lever whereby the cam rotates to lock the positioning
pin within the latching recess.
14. The access door as described in claim 13 wherein the latching
lever has an end comprising a counterweight and wherein the
counterweight rotates the cam to lock the positioning pin within
the latching recess.
15. The access door as described in claim 13 further comprising an
arcuate opening located about the cam and wherein the positioning
pin is located within the arcuate opening.
16. The access door as described in claim 13 wherein the track is
defined by opposing edges and further comprising a pivot pin
located on the cam, the pivot pin rotating against one of the
opposing edges of the track as the cam locks the positioning pin
within the latching recess.
17. The access door as described in claim 13 wherein the latching
lever has a length that creates a lever arm and wherein the lever
arm increases the forces generated by the cam.
18. A latching mechanism comprising: a door pivotally connected to
a frame, a track with first and second ends associated with the
door; a hold open arm having a first end secured to the frame and a
second end with a positioning pin, the positioning pin slidably
coupled to the track; a latching lever, the latching lever having a
first narrowed end with a handle and a second enlarged end with a
cam, the second enlarged end being interconnected to the
positioning pin; the door having a locked orientation wherein the
cam is rotated by way of the handle to secure the positioning pin
within the second end of the track.
19. The latching mechanism as described in claim 18 wherein the
handle is tapered and has a mass that acts as a counterweight and
wherein the counterweight tends to bring the door into the locked
orientation.
20. The latching mechanism as described in claim 18 wherein the
locked orientation corresponds with the latching lever being
rotated towards the ground.
21. The latching mechanism as described in claim 18 wherein the
locked orientation corresponds with the latching lever being
rotated towards the hold open arm.
22. The latching mechanism as described in claim 18 wherein the
handle of the latching lever is a cylindrical pin with two halves
that symmetrically extend from opposite surfaces of the latching
lever.
23. The latching mechanism as described in claim 22 wherein the
handle is enveloped by a rubber cover.
24. The latching mechanism as described in claim 18 wherein a
semicircular opening is formed within the second enlarged end of
the latching lever and wherein the positioning pin is positioned
within the semicircular opening.
25. The latching mechanism as described in claim 24 wherein in the
locked orientation the semicircular opening prevents the movement
of the positioning pin by obstructing its movement.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority to
co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 61/503,771 filed on
Jul. 1, 2011, and entitled "Locking Mechanism for Vault Door." The
contents of this application are fully incorporated herein for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a latching mechanism for an access
door. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
latching mechanism for maintaining an access door in an opened
orientation.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] Access doors are frequently mounted within the ground and
used to access underground utility areas. Because utility areas are
often located in highly trafficked areas, the access doors must be
capable of withstanding pedestrian and/or vehicle traffic. Access
doors also serve an important security function by preventing
unauthorized individuals from entering the utility areas. As a
result, access doors must employ a heavy duty construction in order
to both support traffic and provide security.
[0006] Users entering the utility area must ensure that the access
door is fixed in an open position during ingress and egress. Access
doors that are not properly secured can be unintentionally closed,
thereby injuring the user. Given the substantial weight of typical
access doors, these injuries can be substantial.
[0007] An example of a prior art vault, or access, door is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,074 to Schack. Schack discloses a
spring assisted door construction. The door of Schack includes
closed, raised, and fully open positions. A first pair of torsion
rods are arranged to be loaded when the door is swung down to a
closed position from a raised position. A second pair of torsion
bars are arranged to be stressed when the door is swung to its
fully open position.
[0008] Yet another example is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.
6,347,818 to Lyons, Sr. Lyons discloses a hold open arm assembly
for a non-vertically hinged door. The assembly permits one-handed
operation and prevents the door from closing unexpectedly. The
assembly utilizes a guide bracket with a guide slot. The assembly
further includes a hold open arm having a nut, bolt, bearing, and
stop surface at one end. The bearing is adapted to travel within
with guide slot. The stop surface cooperates with an angled stop to
lock in door in an opened orientation.
[0009] Although Schack and Lyons address issues associated with the
weight of the door, they nonetheless do not provide an adequate
latching mechanism for a hold open arm. The present disclosure is
directed to a latching mechanism for a hold open arm in order to
prevent unintended closure of the door.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] One of the advantages of the present disclosure is realized
by providing an access door that can be secured in a fully opened
orientation.
[0011] Another advantage is achieved by latching a hold open arm in
a pivoted orientation to secure an attached access door in an
opened orientation.
[0012] Still yet another advantage is achieved by permitting a user
to close an access door by releasing the hold open arm.
[0013] A further advantage is realized by a hold open arm with a
secondary latching lever, whereby the latching lever includes a cam
that pivotally engages and secures a pin upon the hold open
arm.
[0014] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent
and important features of the present invention in order that the
detailed description of the invention that follows may be better
understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more
fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be
described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the
invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be
readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other
structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present
invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art
that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit
and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the access door in its
closed orientation.
[0016] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the access door and
latching mechanism and with the access door in the opened
orientation.
[0017] FIG. 1C is a detailed view of the handle for the access door
as taken from FIG. 1A.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the access door in the
partially opened orientation and with the latching mechanism
unlocked.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the access door in the
opened orientation and the latching mechanism locked; the phantom
view shows the latching mechanism unlocked.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the locking mechanism being
moved into the locked position.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the locking mechanism in the
locked position.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the locking mechanism in the
locked position and with the unlocked position being shown in
phantom.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line VII-VII of
FIG. 6.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the locking mechanism in the
locked position.
[0025] Similar reference characters refer to similar parts
throughout the several views of the drawings.
TABLE-US-00001 PARTS LIST 20 Latching Mechanism 22 Frame 24 Access
Door 24a Edges of Access Door 26 Hold Open Arm 28 Secondary
Latching Lever 32 Forward End of Frame 34 Rearward End of Frame 36
Sidewalls of Frame 38 Flanges on Frame 42 Hinges for Access Door 44
Inner Edge of Access Door 46 Slotted Track 48 First End of Slotted
Track 52 Second End of Slotted Track 54 First Latching Recess 56
Second Latching Recess 56a Peripheral Edge of Recess 58 Hold Open
Arm Positioning Pin 62 Cylindrical Body of Positioning Pin 64
Enlarged Head of Positioning Pin 66 Handle of Latching Lever 68
Arcuate Opening 72 Ends of Arcuate Opening 74 Cam 76 Pivot Pin 78
Grip Portion Hold Open Arm
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] The present disclosure relates to a latching mechanism for
an access door. More specifically, the disclosure relates to an
access door that can be pivoted between opened and closed
orientations, and secured in the open position with the aid of a
hold open arm. A latching lever, in turn, pivotally engages the
hold open arm to selectively secure the hold open arm, maintaining
the access door in an opened orientation. A grip upon the hold open
arm can thereafter be used in conjunction with the latching lever
to unlock the access door and permit it to be closed.
[0027] With reference to FIG. 1B, latching mechanism 20 of the
present disclosure is illustrated. As illustrated, mechanism 20
comprises a frame 22, an access door 24, a hold open arm 26, and a
latching lever 28. FIG. 1A illustrates access door 24 in the closed
orientation covering, for example, an underground utility area.
Access door 24 may include a recessed handle for use in lifting the
door opened (note FIG. 1C). With reference again to FIG. 1B, access
door 24 is pivotally secured to frame 22 via hinges 42. Hold open
arm 26, in turn, is slidably secured to door 24 and pivotally
secured to frame 22. Frame 22 in the depicted embodiment is
rectangular and defines an opening for an underground utility
enclosure or access. As most clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, frame
22 includes four walls: forward and rearward walls (32 and 34); and
two side walls 36. Frame 22 optionally includes upper and lower
peripheral flanges 38 that permit frame 22 to be mounted flush
within the ground.
[0028] Access door 24 is pivotally secured to one of the walls of
frame 22. In the depicted embodiment, access door 24 is rectangular
to match the rectangular opening of access and is further attached
to the rear wall 34 of frame 22 by way of hinges 42. Hinges 42 are
pivotally secured between frame 22 and an inner edge 44 of door 24.
As depicted in FIG. 1B, door 24 has a series of edges 24a that are
offset from the periphery of door 24. These edges 24a are adapted
to be received within the access opening when door 24 is closed. A
slotted track 46 is formed within one of the recessed 24a. In the
depicted embodiment, slotted track 46 is formed on a side edge and
includes first and second ends (48 and 52). Additionally, first end
48 includes a first latching recess 54 and second end 52 includes a
second latching recess 56 (note FIG. 2). Both latching recesses (54
and 56) are perpendicular to the length of slotted track 46.
Slotted track 46 is adapted to engage a hold open arm positioning
pin 58 upon hold open arm 26 in a manner more fully described
hereinafter.
[0029] Hold open arm 26 includes a first end pivotally secured to
frame 22 and a second end slidably interconnected to slotted track
46. The first end is pivoted at a fixed point, and second end is
pivoted such that it is free to move linearly along slotted track
46. In the depicted embodiment, a threaded fastener forms the
pivotal interconnection between frame 22 and hold open arm 26. The
second end of the hold open arm 26 includes a positioning pin 58 at
its distal end. Positioning pin 58 comprises a cylindrical body 62
and an enlarged head 64 (note FIG. 7). The width of head 64 is
larger than the opening of track 46 to prevent the removal of pin
58. The slidable connection between hold open arm 26 and slotted
track 46 is achieved by positioning cylindrical body 62 of
positioning pin 58 within slotted track 46. This permits
positioning pin 58 and hold open arm 26 to freely travel along the
entire length of slotted track 46. Positioning pin 58 can be
positioned within recesses 54 and 56 at either end of track 46. As
cylindrical body 62 rides within the interior of the slotted track
46, the enlarged head 64 travels along the outer surface of
recessed edge 24a.
[0030] Latching lever 28 can be used by the operator to selectively
lock positioning pin 58 into the second latching recess 56 at the
second end 52 of track 46. As best illustrated in FIG. 6, latching
lever 28 has opposed ends with a handle 66 interconnected to the
first end and an arcuate, or semicircular, opening 68 formed in the
second end. Lever 28 is preferably tapered with a narrow end
adjacent handle 66 and a larger end at opening 68. Handle 66 has
two halves extending perpendicularly from the surface of lever 28.
Handle 66 can be enveloped by a rubber cover.
[0031] Arcuate opening 68 is defined by curved ends 72 and a
central cam 74 (note FIG. 4). A pivot pin 76 is formed upon cam 74.
Pivot pin 76 is slideably received within slotted track 46 at a
location adjacent positioning pin 58. Positioning pin 58 of the
hold open arm 26 is secured within both slotted track 46 and
arcuate opening 68 of latching lever 28. Latching lever 28 can,
therefore, pivot about positioning pin 58 as positioning pin 58
travels within track 46. Latching lever 28 is parallel with hold
open arm 26. Handle 66 on lever 28 acts as a counterweight such
that lever 28 has a tendency to rotate into a position with handle
66 pointing toward the ground. This assists in keeping lever 28 in
the locked position. Namely, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the weight
of handle 66 will rotate lever 28 downwardly such that cam 74
prevents positioning pin 58 from leaving latching recess 56.
[0032] Access door 24 has closed and opened orientations. In the
closed orientation, door 24 overlies frame 22 to close the entrance
to the access (note FIG. 1A). Thus, the angle between door 24 and
frame 22 is 0.degree.. To achieve this orientation the pivot and
positioning pins (76 and 58) are slid to the first end 48 of
slotted track 46. As illustrated, the first end 48 of slotted track
46 is the end closest to the forward end 32 of frame 22. Second end
52 of slotted track 46 is the end closest to the rearward end (or
hinge end) 34 of frame 22. In the closed orientation positioning
pin 58 is adjacent to the first end 48 of slotted track 46. Pin 58
and pivot 76 may optionally rest within first latching recess 54 in
the closed orientation.
[0033] In the opened orientation depicted in FIG. 3, access door 24
is positioned at an angle with respect to frame 22. In the depicted
embodiment, the open position is achieved when the access door 24
is at approximately a 90.degree. angle with respect to frame 22.
This angle is measured from the plane in which frame 22 is mounted.
Although a 90.degree. orientation is preferred, angles between
85.degree. to 95.degree. can likewise constitute an opened
orientation. The only requirement is that the opening be sufficient
to allow ingress and egress. Access door 24 is preferably secured
into the opened orientation prior to a user entering or exiting the
access.
[0034] The door is placed into the open position by sliding the
hold open arm 26 such that the positioning and pivots pins (58 and
76) are moved to the second end 52 of slotted track 46. In this
position, access door 24 is propped into a fully opened but not yet
a fully secured position. As noted in FIG. 4, access door 24 is
locked by moving the first end of the latching lever 28 towards the
hold open arm 26. The "a" arrow in FIG. 4 shows the direction lever
28 travels when moving to the locked position. As this occurs, and
as illustrated in FIG. 5, latching lever 28 pivots about pivot pin
76 and cam 74 engages positioning pin 58. Upon further rotation of
latching lever 28 the cam 74 urges positioning pin 58 into the
latching recess 56. Pivot pin 76 may be leveraged against the
peripheral wall 56a of recess 56 while this occurs. In the final
locked position (note FIG. 6) cam 74 prevents positioning pin 58
from being removed from latching recess 56. With the latching lever
28 fully rotated, latching lever 28 and hold open arm 26 may be
nearly parallel with one another. In this orientation, the
unintended closure of access door 24 is prevented. Lever 28 is also
counterweighted such that it rotates to the locked position. The
mass of the overall system is such that gravity tends to rotate
hold open arm 26 and latching lever 28 and into a position wherein
access door 24 is opened and mechanism 20 is locked.
[0035] To release the access door 24 for closure, latching lever 28
is pivoted in the opposite direction. Namely, the latching lever 28
is pivoted away from hold open arm 26. As the latching lever 28 is
pivoted in this direction, the cam 74 is moved from its position
over the second recess 56, which permits the positioning pin 58 to
be removed from the latching recess 56. More specifically, the user
can grasp the grip portion 78 of the hold open arm 26 and pivot the
arm 26 away from door 24. The user may also optionally push back on
the access door 24. This action allows the hold open arm 26 to be
released from its locked position. This action also places the
positioning pin 58 and the pivot pin 76 back into slotted track 46
and out of the latching recess 56. Both the positioning and pivot
pins (58 and 76) are then free to slide to the opposite end 48 of
slotted track 46 as door 24 is pivoted to the closed
orientation.
[0036] The present disclosure includes that contained in the
appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description.
Although this invention has been described in its preferred form
with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the
present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way
of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction
and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *